Team USA Tallies 50 Goals in Three Games to Qualify for Super Final

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., July 15. TEAM USA completed day three of competition by crushing New Zealand 20-9 on Friday in the third match of the FINA World League Semifinal in Los Alamitos, Calif. Today, the Red, White and Blue will face the Canadians, who beat Australia in an overtime shootout during the first game of the night.

"I thought for the first half we were real sharp on everything we were doing,” Team USA head coach Guy Baker said. “Our 6-on-5 game was the best we've played. I told them at half that we just need to keep working on what we've been doing. They surprised us in the second half and our defense kind of let down. With tonight's win, we qualified for Super Finals and we are really excited about that."

USA had New Zealand stumped on offense well into the second quarter. USA tacked up seven goals when Rebecca McGuiness posted the New Zealanders first goal, 7-1, at 4:30 in period two. Emily Feher subbed into goal for Betsey Armstrong at the half and let an outside shot by Kirsten Hudson (NZL) sneak past her, followed by a second by Anna Sieprath (NZL). Team USA answered back within seconds when Kami Craig converted the first of two goals in two minutes, 13-3. During the second half, New Zealand stepped up their offense and played the Americans even in the fourth quarter.

"I thought we let down in the second half and coach told us after the game that we need to play four solid quarters especially against Canada and Australia,” USA player Natalie Golda said. “Basically, we just need to continue our style of play and put together four solid quarters."

In other action, Brazil knocked off China, 7-6.

The action continues on July 15 starting off with Australia and China at 3:30 p.m., New Zealand and Brazil at 5 p.m. and USA and Canada at 6:30 p.m.